15 Mins with Henry Dimbleby — Food Security, GLP-1 Drugs & the Future of Farming

In this episode, we sit down with Henry Dimbleby — food policy expert, author of the National Food Strategy, and co-founder of Leon — for a wide-ranging conversation on the issues shaping the future of food and farming in the UK.

We discuss whether the government truly understands food resilience, and what it would take to better prepare for global trade shocks. Henry shares his perspective on the interconnectedness of the global food system — from Iranian saffron to Moroccan salad shortages — and makes the case for building domestic capacity and maintaining diverse trade routes.

The conversation turns to the surprising impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs on crop markets, and what falling calorie demand could mean for British wheat and cereal farmers. Henry argues the answer lies in thinking ahead to where markets are heading and moving towards premium.

We also tackle the thorny question of red meat: is it sustainable, and what role should UK farmers play in the global picture? Henry offers a pragmatic view — it's for the government and the market to set direction, not for individual farmers to go bust over a moral imperative. But responsible production? That's non-negotiable.